MUSLIM RIGHTS
CONCERN (MURIC)
هيئة حقوق المسلمين
Motto: Dialogue,
Not Violence
19th March, 2026
SALAH MESSAGE:
SAVE CORPERS FROM KILLINGS AND ABDUCTIONS – MURIC
An Islamic human rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC), has thrown its weight behind ongoing clamour for either the safety of
youth corpers or scrapping the scheme.
MURIC joined the advocacy in its 2026 Ramadan festival message
issued on Thursday, 19th March, 2026 by the Executive Director of
the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The Salah message reads:
"Our attention has been drawn to ongoing clamour for the
safety of youth corpers during their service year. Many have called for the
scrapping of the scheme if the safety of youth corpers cannot be guaranteed by
the Federal Government (FG).
"Foremost among the advocates for the welfare of corpers is
a group called The People's Voice led by Dr. Alice Oludimu (https://www-vanguardngr-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2026/03/group-seeks-insurance-cover-for-nysc-members/amp/) and
Haruna Danjuma, president of the National Parents-Teachers Association of
Nigeria (https://punchng-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/punchng.com/scrap-nysc-if-you-cant-protect-corpers-parents-tell-fg/?).
"Their
call is just, altruistic and patriotic. It is a struggle to stop the wastage of
the lives of Nigerian youth, a call to accountability among Nigerian leaders
and a wakeup call to value human life. We therefore consider it a civic duty to
join the call.
"The facts staring Nigerians in the face are scary. As at
2023, 83 NYSC members have been abducted in ten years (i.e. between 2013 and
2023 https://fij.ng/article/timeline-83-corps-members-abducted-in-10-years-40-in-rivers-alone/).
"A corper, Musa Usman Abba from Gusau, Zamfara State, a
Plant Science and Bio Technology graduate from Federal University, Gusau, who had
been abducted since 9th January 2026 while traveling to Sokoto State
to resume for his National service, was eventually killed by bandits on
Thursday, 5th March, 2026 even after his parents had struggled to
pay a 10 million naira ransom (https://thenewcitizen.ng/bandits-kill-abducted-nysc-member-after-n10-million-ransom-payment/).
"Another corper was released after paying 10 million naira
ransom with 2 motorcycles in Zamfara. This happened in March 2026 (https://saharareporters.com/2026/03/16/terrorists-release-nysc-member-after-collecting-n10).
"In a December 2020 incident, kidnappers killed a corper and
abducted others who were also corpers along Lokoja-Abuja highway (https://humanglemedia.com/kidnappers-abduct-corp-members-shot-one-to-death-along-abuja-lokoja-road/).
"These sad incidents should not be happening to our youths.
It is already assaulting their psyche and militarising them.
"MURIC
reminds FG of its major responsibility towards the citizenry. Section 14(2)(b)
of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) says,
'The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of
government.'
"FG
must therefore add a human face to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)
scheme by taking every necessary step to make it a safe venture for our young
ones. We must transform NYSC from a pact with death and captivity to a journey
through life and hope.
"In an heart-rending development, an NYSC director made
corpers sign that their parents would pay if they are kidnapped. Is this not
alarming? When did NYSC become an agent of bandits?
"We demand the following:
1. full life insurance policy for every young Nigerian embarking
on the NYSC scheme;
2. mandatory military escorts for corpers traveling to high
risk zones and
3. prohibition of the abdication of responsibility to parents of
corpers.
#FederalGovernmentOfNigeria
#NYSC
#CorpersLivesMatter
Professor Ishaq
Akintola,
Founder/Executive
Director,
Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC).
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